Family of paralyzed Provo man seeks help
Once a palsy stricken and injured actor on stage, Cameron Sevy, father of nine, won’t just be acting the part any longer.
In a case of life changing course and then imitating art, Sevy, 52, became paralyzed from the chest down after a nearly fatal sledding accident Feb. 3.
Sevy had been out sledding with his youngest son, Jake, when he hit a tree, severing his spinal cord, shattering vertebrae, fracturing his neck and breaking several ribs.
The Sevy family, left reeling, quickly began raising funds to help pay for the medical and home retrofitting expenses that came with the paralyzation. Family members have been sending out pleas for help to neighbors and local news outlets, even placing notices on Web sites such as craigslist.org asking for any help that the community could offer.
The family has also created a Web site where people can learn about the accident and make donations to help support the family.
Sevy’s Daughter, Holly Cox, said that the family had no insurance and that it was too early to estimate the costs of medical care. Costs will include surgeries, rehab and post rehabilitation care, and are expected to be extremely high.
“It’s devastating to have this happen to your family,” Cox said.
Additional costs include the retrofitting of a their home to service the paraplegic man. A contractor estimated the cost of retrofitting at over $22,000, but offered a $5,000 discount. Others have also offered professional services to help in the retrofit.
Cox said that they had the manpower to do the work, but they were short the funds to get it done.
Despite desperate financial straights, Sevy and family have kept a remarkably positive attitude.
“I’d like to confirm to you that your love, shown by so many means, has literally healed me of a destructive attitude I’ve not been otherwise able to overcome,” wrote Sevy in a note of gratitude using a special keyboard available to him in rehab.
Friends and family members refer to him as “remarkable” “amazing” and “an inspiration.”
The family is holding a garage sale on Saturday to raise funds, and is planning a concert and a silent auction later on in the month. The family is looking for donations for these events, of both goods and services.
They have currently scheduled local singer Rebecca Lopez to perform, but are looking to add bigger names to that list.
Before the accident, Sevy worked as an actor and Realtor, appearing in the LDS film, “The Testaments” where he played a palsied man. He has also appeared in other films and plays. Family friend Jenny Walker said that Sevy has expressed interest in motivational speaking as a new career path following the accident.
In 1993, Sevy, then with three children of his own, married his wife Sharon, who came into the marriage with five children. Together they had Jacob. All told Sevy and his wife boast 21 grandchildren.
For more information, visit http://www.cameronsevy.com
Donations can be taken directly to the Sevy home at 524 E. 400 S. Provo, or you can contact Holly Cox at (801) 735-3850.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.